Clothesline reel



Jan. 6, 1942. M. J. YOUNG- 2,268,996

CLOTHESLINE REEL Filed 001;. 21, 1939 MAPHET J :Youue Mod/M44 PatentedJan. 6, 1942 f "22,268,996 7 a CLOTHESLINE REEL Maphet J. Young,Youngstown, Ohio Application October 21, 1939, Serial No. 300,569

; screams. 101. 242-100) This invention relates toimprovements inclothes line reels and. more-4particu1arly to .im-

line partially in use, none have been particularly I satisfactory inuse, since either the construction thereof was unduly complicated or thearticles themselves lacked certain features which are essential to thefull usefulness. of the articles. Principal among thedefects of theseprior art devices is, the omission of readily engageable means to securean endof the line to the reel regardless-of the character of the endofthe line. In some instances the line ends are simply knotted while inothers loops are formed at the ends to facilitate the attachment of theends of the lines toyarious objects. Also, sufficient thought has notbeen given to the problem of'taking care of the unused portionsofthelines when the remaining portions of the lines are in use and totaking care of the complete lines when no part of the lines is in use.In connection with the latter'it should be observed that it isessentialfor the proper maintenance of the lines, that they be kept clean andwell ventilated to prevent mildew and that they be kept free from sharpbendings and undue twisting to prevent the cords from opening and kinksfrom forming therein. These functions are accomplished in accordancewith the,

present invention by providing a simply constructed and operated reelfor the orderly retaining of the lines and by providing on the reel ahook which may engage a strung portion of the line or other convenientsupport whenthe complete line is wound on the reel.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the invention to provide aclothes line reel which is relatively simple in design and economical toconstruct but which is provided with readily enthereon in a clean andwell ventilated condition.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of ahook on aclothes line reel whereby the reel may be readilysuspended on a strungclothes line or other suitable support.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a clothes linereel of improved means to engage and secure'the end of the line which isto be carried thereon. I

These and other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome-apparent from a consideration;of the following detailedspecification and the. accompanying drawing wherein there isspecifically illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.

. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a reel constructedinaccordance with the teachings of the present invention, the view beingtaken along the line I--I of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is .an end view of the reel of Figure l; and

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along the line IIIIII ofFigure 1, Figure 3 illustrating the operation of .theline attachingfeature when the line; is provided with a knot and Figure 4 illustratingtheoperation'. of the same when the line end is. provided with a loop.

Referring to the modification reel in its preferred embodiment consistsof a pair of spaced parallel side members in which arepreferablyconstructed of sheet metal, cirgageable means to engage andsecurethe end of a clothes line and which is provided with means toengage a strung line or other'suitable support whereby the line on thereel may be readily maintained in a clean and airy position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clothes line reelwhich is simple in design, which may be economically constructed andwhich is capable of maintaining the line held cular in form and havingperipheralbeads i I. I A

Equally radially and circumferentially spaced about the center axis ofthe members ID are the rods 14 which are provided with nuts orequivalentprojections I5 to engage theinner surfaces of the members Ill.The ends of the rods l4 extend outwardly through apertures in the memberID and cap nutslfi are screw-threaded onto-the projecting endsof therods I4 to securely clamp the members l0 and rods I4 together. As shownmore clearly in Figures 1, 3 and 4, one of the rods I4 is provided witha looped portion I! which may extend radially inward towards the centeraxis of the members H. The loop I1 is adapted to be engaged by the endof the clothes line to start the coiling of theline on the reel providedby the members It! and 14. By referring to Figure 3, which shows a knot18 at the end of the clothes line I9, it can be seen that, simply bypositioning illustrated; the

extending through the loop and having its main body on the other side ofthe loop, the end of the line will be effectively secured to the reel.If, however, the line I9 is provided with a loop 20, as indicated inFigure 4, the loop 20 may be passed over the loop I! to secure the endof the line to the reel.

Extending along the central axis of the side plates I is a rod 22loosely received within apertures in the members l0 and held againstaxial movement relative to the reel by handle 23 attached to the rod atone end of the reel and by a cotter pin 24 or other suitable expedientat the other end of the reel. Rod 22 is provided with an extension 25outwardly of the handle 23 which extension is in the form of a hookwhereby the reel may be readily suspended from a strung line or from anyother suitable support. It should be noted that the handle 23 isconcentric with the axis of rotation of the reel formed by the rods Idand members and when the line is being coiled on the reel the handle 23may be con veniently held by theleft hand of the user and the right handof .the. user may be employed to rotate the reel by means of a handle 26attached to the member [0 on the opposite end of the reel from thehandle 23 and adjacent the periphery thereof. This provides in effect acrank which facilitates operation of the reel.

It should be apparent that many changes may be made in the abovespecifically described embodiment of the invention without departingfnomthe spirit or scope of the invention. For example, it should beapparent that the circular shape of the end members 10 is .notessential, as these serve simply as a support for the rods [4 or otherdrum construction and as a retaining means for the ends of the coilwound on the drum. Thus spoked members may be employed in the place ofthe side disks l0. As a further modification of the invention, it iscontemplated that the hook may be made out such configuration that itwill serve as a handle, thus dispensing with a separate handle, .asshown at 23 in the modification specifically described.

- It should .now be apparent that I have provided an improved clothesline reel whichsatisfactorily accomplishes the objects initially setout. The reel specificallydisclosed may be veryeconomicallymanufactured. The reels is provided with means to readilyconnect the end of the clothes line whether the end be provided with aknot or a loop and in addition a hook is provided enabling the reel tobe suspended from an already strung length of clothes line or from anyreels or the provision of the ventilating apertures allows the line tobe aired at all times and this, together with the provision of the meansfor suspending the reel, facilitates the keeping of the line in a cleanand sanitary condition.

The above specifically described embodiment of the invention should beconsidered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be madetherein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A clothes line reel and support comprising a pair of spaced parallelmembers defining surfaces for confining the side edges of a coil ofclothes line, a plurality of circumferentially arranged rods spanningsaid members and defining a drum upon which the clothes line may becoiled, one of said rods being non-rotatable with respect to saidmembers and being provided with an inwardly directed looped portion tobe selectively engaged within and without the loop by a knotted or alooped end, respectively, of a clothes line, a handle extendingoutwardly of said reel and support in general continuation of the axisof rotation of said drum, and a hook associated with said handle wherebysaid reel and support may be suspended from a strung line.

2. A clothes line reel' and support comprising a pair of spaced parallelmembers defining surfaces for confining the side edges of a coil ofclothes line, a hollow drum having ventilating openings therethroughinterconnectingsaid members and upon which the line may be coiled, meanson said reel to engage a knotted or looped end of said line, ventilatingopenings in said members both inwardly and outwardly of said drum, ahandle extending outwardly of said reel in general continuation oftheprincipal axis of said drum, and a hook associated with saidhandle'whereby said reel may be suspended from a strung line with saidaxis depending vertically from the point'of support. l I

3; A clothes line reel and support comprising a pair of spacedparallelmembers defining surfaces for confining the sideedges of a coilof clothes line, a hollow drum having ventilating openings therethroughinterconnecting said members and upon which the line may be coiled,means/on said reel to engage a knotted or looped end of said line,ventilating openings in said members both inwardly and outwardly of saiddrum, a centrally disposed aperture in each of said members, an axleextending through said apertures and projecting outwardly of the reel ingeneral continuation of the principal axis of said drum, a handlemounted on said axle outwardly of one of said members, an outer end ofsaid axle being curved to provide a hook whereby said reel may besuspended from a strung line with said axis depending vertically fromthe point of support.

' MAPHET J. YOUNG.

